***Monster Planes 2011, RCU Onsite Coverage ***
10-13-2011, 06:14 PM
#1
***Monster Planes 2011, RCU Onsite Coverage ***
Now in its forth year, Monster Planes 2011 has quickly become one of the premier airplane events. This year appears to be no different. We are here for the first day of the event, and there was no shortage of big planes to watch. For those that don't know what Monster Planes is, it's basically what the name says. Monster Planes. The only qualification for an airplane to enter in the event is that is must weigh at least 35 pounds. And let me tell you, 35 pounds here is a small plane!!!!
The event is held at the Lakeland-Linder airport in Lakeland, Florida. Frank Tiano has built a grass runway that would rival many putting greens at golf courses, and it's really great to fly off of.
Here are some picture from the first day of Monster Planes 2011
The event is held at the Lakeland-Linder airport in Lakeland, Florida. Frank Tiano has built a grass runway that would rival many putting greens at golf courses, and it's really great to fly off of.
Here are some picture from the first day of Monster Planes 2011
10-13-2011, 06:22 PM
#4
RE: ***Monster Planes 2011, RCU Onsite Coverage ***
And now for the ugly part of the day. We had an incident during flying that made just about everybody on site a bit sick to the stomach. There were two planes in the air flying formation around the field, a 40% Waco and a large PT-17 Stearman. And unfortunately when you have two planes flying that close to each other they sometimes try to occupy the same space at the same time, and we all know the results when that happens. And it happened here today. Unfortunately I had the wrong camera up for the crash. I wish I had my video camera running, but I didn't. However I was able to capture the crash sequence on my still camera.
Here it is in all it's ugliness
Ken
Here it is in all it's ugliness
Ken
10-13-2011, 06:22 PM
#5
RE: ***Monster Planes 2011, RCU Onsite Coverage ***
And now for the ugly part of the day. We had an incident during flying that made just about everybody on site a bit sick to the stomach. There were two planes in the air flying formation around the field, a 40% Waco and a large PT-17 Stearman. And unfortunately when you have two planes flying that close to each other they sometimes try to occupy the same space at the same time, and we all know the results when that happens. And it happened here today. Unfortunately I had the wrong camera up for the crash. I wish I had my video camera running, but I didn't. However I was able to capture the crash sequence on my still camera.
Here it is in all it's ugliness
Ken
Here it is in all it's ugliness
Ken
10-13-2011, 07:51 PM
#7
RE: ***Monster Planes 2011, RCU Onsite Coverage ***
I started looking at those formation pics and I thought wow, those guys are good, or that camera sure makes them look close, then I got to the picture with the debris...OH MAN... I couldn't believe it.
I will say something, that is the most dead on set of pictures that I think anyone anywhere has ever taken of a midair.
I will say something, that is the most dead on set of pictures that I think anyone anywhere has ever taken of a midair.
10-14-2011, 05:21 AM
#10
RE: ***Monster Planes 2011, RCU Onsite Coverage ***
ORIGINAL: vicman
Why did the Waco crash? The Steerman had all the mid-air damage.
Why did the Waco crash? The Steerman had all the mid-air damage.
Great pics though
]
10-14-2011, 08:00 AM
#12
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RE: ***Monster Planes 2011, RCU Onsite Coverage ***
Looks like the red Waco, who was flying "wing", pushed the envelope. [>:] The Stearman, poor soul, got his tail bitten off.
10-14-2011, 02:52 PM
#14
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RE: ***Monster Planes 2011, RCU Onsite Coverage ***
Look at the Waco prop in pic 3 then pic 4. No motor at 30 feet nose straight up, only one way to go.
The two of them had been flying the whole flight tight, just a couple friends having fun.
It was an unfortunate set of circumstances that caused the crash.
The two of them had been flying the whole flight tight, just a couple friends having fun.
It was an unfortunate set of circumstances that caused the crash.
10-14-2011, 03:26 PM
#16
RE: ***Monster Planes 2011, RCU Onsite Coverage ***
ORIGINAL: vicman
Why did the Waco crash? The Steerman had all the mid-air damage.
Why did the Waco crash? The Steerman had all the mid-air damage.
10-14-2011, 03:53 PM
#17
RE: ***Monster Planes 2011, RCU Onsite Coverage ***
The Waco crashed because there simply wasn't enough altitude to build up airspeed to start flying again. If the accident happened another 50' higher and he would probably have been able to save the Waco. As others have said, the Stearman had no chance at all.
Ken
10-14-2011, 05:22 PM
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RE: ***Monster Planes 2011, RCU Onsite Coverage ***
I had fun there today. I don't fly RC but love aviation. It felt like I was at a full size airshow. Sadly I had to leave around noon to go to work so I missed a lot. Next year I will be attending more of these events.
Dean
Dean
10-14-2011, 05:28 PM
#20
RE: ***Monster Planes 2011, RCU Onsite Coverage ***
I took a couple of shots today of the result of the PT-19 losing its vertical stabilizer. He throttled down and could not maintain control so it went in almost vertical and hit the right side of the car at the rear door. All the damage was concentrated on the door. This was the last car in a row with nothing beyond that point but open space. A fellow in a wheelchair had a wound on his arm, but it didn't look serious. It could have been much worse if it plowed into the crowded area to the left of the car.
Bob
Bob
10-14-2011, 05:56 PM
#22
RE: ***Monster Planes 2011, RCU Onsite Coverage ***
Wow, what a fun day today. I had a blast at Monster Planes today. The day started off with a cross-wind that had a lot of the pilots nervous. But little by little they started venturing out and got to flying in the wind. And then eventually the cross-wind died down. Actually, the wind shifted position several times during the day, which resulted in changing the traffic pattern several times throughout the day.
Yes, there were a couple of bad crashed today. The one above shows how lucky we were. Yes, the plane hit a car, but luckily all it hit was a car. There was also another very bad crash where a very nice Corsair flew through (yes, completely through) a 1/2 scale Tipsy Nipper (google it). Unfortunately noboby I know got pictures of this accident, but I do have pictures similar to those above the PT-19 and the car. Will post those below.
Here are my pictures from Day 2 of Monster Planes 2011
Ken
Yes, there were a couple of bad crashed today. The one above shows how lucky we were. Yes, the plane hit a car, but luckily all it hit was a car. There was also another very bad crash where a very nice Corsair flew through (yes, completely through) a 1/2 scale Tipsy Nipper (google it). Unfortunately noboby I know got pictures of this accident, but I do have pictures similar to those above the PT-19 and the car. Will post those below.
Here are my pictures from Day 2 of Monster Planes 2011
Ken